Fox River (Buller)

Toponymy

The river was named after Bill Fox, a gold prospector. The Māori name Potikohua, comes from poti, a cooking basket, and kohua, steaming oven.

Description

The Fox River has its origins high in the Paparoa Range, and flows in a north-west direction through the limestone syncline. The river passes through deep limestone canyons on its way to the coast. One of the main tributaries is Dilemma Creek.

The river valley is characterised by limestone escarpments, with steep sloping faces beneath. The forest type on these slopes is variable in height and composition. Common species include the nīkau palm (Rhopalostylis sapida), and tree ferns (especially mamaku (Sphaeropteris medullaris), pigeonwood (Hedycarya arborea), māhoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), kāmahi (Weinmannia racemosa), and hīnau (Elaeocarpus dentatus), but nīkau and mamaku are often the most common. Above the steep slopes there are some large northern rātā (Metrosideros robusta) and rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum), with occasional miro (Prumnopitys ferruginea). Rimu and miro are mainly present on the more gentle slopes, while northern rātā is the only emergent tree on the steeper slopes below escarpments.

Tracks

Inland Pack Track

Main article: Inland Pack Track

The full 25 km length of the trail goes between the Punakaiki River in the south, and the mouth of the Fox River in the north. It takes two or three days to complete the track.

Ballroom Overhang

Main article: Ballroom Overhang

The Ballroom Overhang is a large limestone outcrop on the Fox River that provides a sheltered place for resting or overnight camping. The overhang is 10 m at its highest point, 100 m long, and 30 m at its widest point.

In suitable conditions, the 12 km hike to the Ballroom Overhang and back can be made as a return day trip from State Highway 6. The Ballroom Overhang can be reached from the Inland Pack Track, and is approximately 500 m upstream from the junction of Fox River and Dilemma Creek. This part of the route requires several river crossings and has been classified by the Department of Conservation as an advanced tramping track.

Fox River caves

The Fox River caves, situated 3.7 km up from the Fox River carpark, were an early tourist attraction in the area. The caves were receiving visitors in guided tours from around 1900. The caves have been well known for their stalactite formations.

Following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake, the Department of Conservation closed the Fox River caves because of the discovery of a large rockfall over the cave entrance.

References

References

1. Hutchison, Anne. "Kynnersley, Thomas Alfred Sneyd".
2. (2004). "Reed New Zealand Atlas". Reed Books.
3. (1994). "Discover New Zealand: A Wises Guide".
4. Moore, Chris. (27 May 2015). "Boom, then bust, then oblivion for West Coast town". Stuff.
5. (1990). "Paparoa National Park Resource Summary". [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand).
6. "Ballroom Overhang Track". Department of Conservation.
7. {{LINZ
8. (2017). "Paparoa National Park Management Plan".
9. (7 January 1927). "Party make 150 mile trek across coast". Christchurch Star.
10. (11 February 1928). "Fox River Caves – West Coast attraction". Hawera Star.
11. "Fox River Caves". New Zealand Tramper.
12. van Beynen, Martin. (19 November 2016). "DOC huts swept away in earthquake slips". Stuff.